Jen Sievers | Artist

It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to my old mate, Jen Sievers. Jen and I worked together in a design and marketing firm back in the day. I knew she was a super talented graphic designer, but what I've recently discovered is that she is an amazing artist too.

From a young age Jen always loved to paint and draw. She started her career with a fine arts degree, and went on to work for 15 years as a graphic designer. Jen's 'Big Magic' moment happened when she and her husband moved out to a semi-rural house in the foothills of the Waitakeres. It was spring time and the beauty of her surroundings inspired Jen to pick up her paintbrush again. Working four days a week as a designer, Jen spends as much time as possible in her studio on Friday through Sunday, and in the evenings (when she's not chasing her beautiful wee toddler around).

Jen paints contemporary abstracts that are fresh, whimsical and drenched in colour. Her aim is to capture movement, draw the viewer in and evoke joy and emotion. I think it's safe to say that she has achieved that, don't you?

You can find some of Jen's acrylic on large canvases at Endemic World, and she may be introducing some of her work in print form too in the near future.

She also has a number of her pieces available on Society6, from prints to tote bags to cushions, and more.

As well as her large canvases, Jen creates small wood blocks that can sit on a bookshelf or be hung on the wall. For more details and to keep up with all the happenings and new work, make sure you follow Jen on Facebook and Instagram. I know I'm excited to see what's next for this fantastic artist.

Creating a Home

My favourite part about working as an interior designer is watching a room come to life. Architects and builders create the house, or the structure (and a fine job they often do!), but it's what you put inside that turns it from a house to a home. Here are some tips that are guaranteed to warm up your space...

Start at the beginning. The entrance is the first part of your home that you and your guests see. Make a great first impression by creating a warm and welcoming entrance. It's bound to make you happy every time you arrive home.

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Surround yourself with things you love. Do you have a love of vintage mirrors, or a collection of treasured vases? Group them together to make an interesting display.

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Of course, that goes for any of your beloved items. Having them on display in your home helps to tell a story about who you are.

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Artwork is one of the easiest ways to put your mark on a space. "Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder"... it is very personal and often the hardest thing to choose for someone else. If it moves you in someway, and brings you joy, you should definitely have it in your home.

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Another easy way to bring life to your home is to add plants and flowers. Flowers are an instant hit of colour and beauty, and plants can be a more permanent part of your decor - from a large indoor tree in the corner of your living room to a small potted succulent on your bookshelf.

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Anything that has history will add depth and soul to your space. Reupholster your grandmother's antique sofa in a contemporary fabric, or repurpose your father's childhood drawers to use as bathroom vanity. Obviously a piece from your own family will have special meaning, but you can also scour the second hand shops to create this look. I love mixing older pieces with contemporary ones.

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Once you have your key furniture pieces, layer them with rugs, cushions, and throws to bring warmth and comfort. This is an great way to create a cosy and inviting home.

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Books, candles and photographs are the perfect items to create meaningful vignettes, and the books and photos give more clues as to who lives here. Candles, especially scented ones, create ambience and add warmth to a room.

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Lighting is very important in a home. Make sure you have a variety of sources - bright task lighting is important in a kitchen and bathroom, but I often only use lamp light in living areas. Add dimmers to your main lights, and have floor and table lamps throughout your home so that you can adjust the light to suit the occasion.

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These are all things that you can do yourself, but if you would like any help turning your house into a home, you need only ask!

Madder & Rouge Style

Now and then you find a home that resonates with you and calls out your name. That's what happened when I first saw the home of Erin O'Malley in the Aug/Sept 2014 issue of Homestyle magazine. It's everything I love in a home - fresh white walls, gorgeous colour and pattern, lots of Moroccan and Indian influences.  It looks relaxed and inviting and super cool. I love, love, love it!

Photography by Chris Sisarich

Erin is the owner of Auckland design store, Madder & Rouge, and it too is full of really beautiful and interesting pieces from around the world. I was exploring their website this morning and have my eye on quite a few of them. Pop in to their Newmarket store, or visit them online.

Charlotte Love

I love styling! I love coming up with ideas, sourcing props and seeing an image come alive. There's such an art to it, and I'm definitely learning all the time, but I think if you have a keen eye and a good sense of balance and layout, you will learn quickly. Someone who I admire greatly is London based interior stylist and set designer, Charlotte Love. She has such a fun and quirky style, she's very clever! Check out some of her amazing work...

My Great.ly Store Update

I wanted to tell you about a few fabulous new additions to my Great.ly store. If you don't know about Great.ly you can read this blog post which explains it all. Just quickly... I have an online Great.ly store which is filled with products that I love from throughout the Great.ly website. By visiting my blog I'm hoping that means you have a similar style or design aesthetic to me, so you will love my choices, and all items can be shipped internationally - yay!

I have added some gorgeous artwork - beautiful photography, paintings, and abstracts...

There are some fun new items for your home. I can just see my bottle of bubbles in that pink champagne bucket this summer...

Some of my products can be found in more than one category. I love these bright, graphic cushions which are in my home and kids section...

And these cute canvas bags would be great for the kids' lunch, or yours for that matter, or for storage. They can be found in my kids and my accessorise section...

Pop over and check out the whole store, where you can also find a section for your office, for stationery, and books. I've also added the Great.ly logo on my right hand panel, click on it and link straight to the store anytime you feel like some retail therapy. I will continue to update it, so check in regularly for new additions.